Westport rides big first inning to win over Somerset

Friday

Jun 27, 2014 at 10:45 PMJun 27, 2014 at 10:50 PM

A seven-run bottom of the first inning propelled Westport Post 145 to a 13-9 win over Somerset in Legion baseball action on Friday. The win snapped a sevengame losing streak for Post 145 (3-10), which pounded out 14 hits against two Somerset hurlers

Derek VitalCorrespondent

A seven-run bottom of the first inning propelled Westport Post 145 to a 13-9 win over Somerset in Legion baseball action on Friday.

The win snapped a sevengame losing streak for Post 145 (3-10), which pounded out 14 hits against two Somerset hurlers.

“We have struggled to score runs,” said Westport head coach Jay Pacheco. “So to get seven early was great. At the same time, we haven’t been playing that well so it’s tough to stay focused. You get seven early and you think you’re going to score 20.”

Ian Chaney, Desmond Sanders, Brendan Hall and Austin Frizado all had run-scoring singles for Westport in the first as they chased Somerset starter John Elderkin from the game before he could record three outs.

After the nightmare first, Somerset responded with a pair of runs apiece in the second and third innings to cut the Westport lead to 7-4.

In the top of the second, Mitch Diamond drew a walk off Westport starter Andrew Dessert. Sean Botelho reached on an error and Tom Santos lined a single to right to load the bases. Dessert forced in a run when he walked Somerset leadoff hitter Drew Rapoza making the score 7-1. Justin Duarte grounded out to second allowing Botelho to score from third cutting the Post 145 lead to 7-2.

“You can’t give up seven runs in the first and think you are going to come back,” said Somerset head coach Bill Courville. “We’re not good enough to do that. But they kept fighting. They stayed in the game with some good at bats.”

Somerset (2-10) cut the deficit to 7-4 when Elderkin smacked an RBI double and Botelho hit a sacrifice fly in the third.

Westport responded with a four run third to restore their seven run advantage.

Nate Maynard legged out an infield hit, Brandon Antone was hit by a pitch and Sanders drew a walk to load the bases with none out. Brendan Hall reached on a infield single, plating Bryce Antone, who pinch ran for Maynard. With Westport ahead 8-4, Frizado lined a base hit to left which scored Brandon Antone and Sanders making the score 10-4. Chaney followed with a run-scoring single up the middle, increasing the Post 145 lead to 11-4.

Westport tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. The game was called following the top of the sixth inning with sunlight slowly fading and both teams having exhausted a handful of pitchers.

Frizado led the Post 145 attack, going 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI’s. Sanders added two hits, three runs and an RBI and Hall finished with two hits a run and three RBI’s. Dessert got the win for Westport, going four plus innings on the mound allowing seven runs on four hits. He walked nine and struck out two.

Botelho scored three runs and added an RBI and Elderkin and Diamond scored two runs apiece to pace Somerset.